The March Edit
Three hotels and one hideaway I recently added to my wishlist, my hunt for the perfect summer top, and the wallpaper I'm dreaming of decorating my walls with
If you’re wondering what happened to the February edit — I realised that I’m consistently late sending out these monthly newsletters (as they take such a long time to compose) and that they tend to go out at the beginning of the month, rather than the end of the month. So you haven’t missed one — the naming of the months just makes a little bit more sense now!
I’m writing this introduction on the 5th March (see, it would’ve been silly to name this the ‘February edit’) as the sun glares outside my window. Spring, it seems, may actually be just around the corner. I spent last week in Cornwall for a glorious shoot of coastlines and cottages, walking around in a t-shirt and even braving a short swim in the sea. I could get used to all this sunshine — but am also preparing myself for that March snowfall and dip in temperatures that we usually get.
This past month has been incredibly busy; I’ve realised that I haven’t spent a full week at home since mid-January. If you want to read the nitty gritty of everywhere I’ve been and what I’ve been working on this month, you can find it here, but here’s a quick run-down: I visited friends in France for a skiing weekend, shot for an interior designer in Edinburgh, spent a week falling in love with Marrakech, whizzed down to London for a meeting, somehow found time to work for a couple of regular writing clients, and the aforementioned week-long Cornish shoot. I love how much I get to travel for my work, but it definitely feels good to spend a week at home, sleeping in my own bed, getting chance to do my washing, and to see my boyfriend, friends and beloved dog.
There are no huge travels planned for the month ahead (yet — I have a few dates still available in my diary) but I have got two shoots in London and two shoots in the Lake District to look forward to. I’ll be sharing a few snaps on my Instagram if you’re interested to see who I’m shooting for — where I’ll also be sharing my final images from my week in Cornwall (I didn’t find any time at all for the app while I was away — how do my fellow photographers manage to update their Instagram’s in real time?!)
And now, on with this month’s edit of everything that has caught my eye …
I don’t tend to buy many new clothes seasonally, but I’ve recently saved two images that have dictated how I want to dress for the remainder of the year: Mya Hansel wearing this (vintage?) white cotton dress and Skall Studio’s Freya dress (which costs about triple what I could afford). These images have led me on a hunt for white nighties that I could wear as dresses (throwing a jumper over them in chilly weather) — and I’ve also gone off on a tangent looking for crochet tops and cotton shirts to wear with denim shorts. I’ve actually purchased Sezane’s Emma blouse and Petite Mendigote’s Theo shirt, but Skall’s Anemone crop blouse and All That Remains Faith cami are also calling my name.
Plum Cottage is the latest collaborative project between luxury holiday cottage connoisseurs Atlanta Trevone and design studio HAM Interiors. Never have I ever fallen so deeply for the interior design of a cottage. The canoped bed, the Delft tiles above the postbox red range cooker, the green painted wooden staircase, the cosy living room — everything is perfection. HAM Interiors have a real knack for considering every little detail — everything from their trademark fish artwork to the tiny gold boats perched on the mantlepiece is beautiful while also subtly referencing the cottage’s location.
I love a good glass of wine, but Dry Jan found me a love affair with Botivo, and I’m now on the hunt for more non-alcoholic aperitifs that actually taste nice. Enter Ghia. Not only is their branding shit hot, their bottle beautifully designed and their ingredients all natural, but the flavours of their original aperitif sound delicious: Japanese Yuzu, lemon balm and orange citrus. As advised by the brand: spritz, stir or sip to enjoy.
Pronounced ee-so, which is Greek for ‘gold’, YSSO’s original design headquarters in the Saronic Gulf inspire all of their designs. Chunky gold jewels draw influence from Ancient Greek myths, legends and architecture. The Aesop necklace, resembling a wax seal to personify the iconic storyteller, and the Dyo gold ring, inspired by the Ionic order are my two favourite pieces. I dream of wearing these on sun-soaked days lounging on the rocks in Hydra.
I tend to forget about London when I’m on the hunt for beautifully designed hotels in the UK, mainly because I’d rather take a holiday on the coast or in the countryside than in the heart of a metropolis. But I recently stumbled upon The Rookery Hotel, located in Clerkenwell, and fell a little bit in love with their cosy, opulent interiors. I have a real thing for canoped beds at the moment, and I also love all the rich tones they use throughout their rooms and suites. It feels like the perfect surroundings for forgetting you’re in the middle of a bustling city.
Designed in Stockholm and handcrafted by artisans in India, Nordic Knots rugs are contemporary yet timeless. I’ve become a little bit besotted with the capsule collection designed by interior design studio Giancarlo Valle — rich colours, playful designs, and organic motifs inspired by Nordic folklore art. I’d like the green loop in my living room and the red buds in my bedroom. They’re not cheap though!
Sometime in the (hopefully near) future, we’re going to finish renovating our house. This will involve completely gutting the downstairs and plastering and decorating the hallway, stairs and upstairs landing — and one of the main things that excites me about this future project is wallpaper. I want to add wallpaper to both our upstairs landing and one wall in our living room, and although this is some time off yet, I’m always keeping my eye out for potential wallpapers. This collaboration between wallpaper and fabric designer Anna Hayman and fashion stylist Rebecca Bakewell is one of the most beautiful wallpaper designs I’ve come across, and I can’t stop thinking about where I could add this to my house. It’s whimsical and romantic, and although it is much more feminine than my usual style, I don’t think I’d get sick of gazing at this. I think it would be perfect for a downstairs loo or pantry.
I’ve been keeping my eye peeled for more information and the first images from Lilloey Lindenberg, and last month they finally delivering with the first glances of the interiors of this private island getaway in the Norwegian fjords. It’s shot straight to the top of my list of dream hotels thanks to everything from its beautifully designed interiors with traditional wood-clad walls to the panoramic ocean views from each window. Guests can kayak around the island or take a boat tour of the fjords, learn about the local wildlife, soak in outdoor bubble baths, plunge into the icy waters and warm up in the sauna, enjoy a hand’s on gardening experience, or have a go at mushroom foraging. There’s space for just ten guests; the house feeling like a home with a cosy kitchen, living room with roaring fire, and even a botanical library which functions as part reading room, part bar. Basically, my dream getaway.
Guilherme Furtado is a multidisciplinary visual storyteller who beautifully captures his travels with a distinct aesthetic. His Outside is Home series of self-published books document his adventures and dreams from various parts of the world — the series currently includes Morocco, Greece and Indonesia. Each edition (and subsequently, his Instagram, where I came across him) is based around one colour that represents that country (red for Morocco, blue for Greece, green for Indonesia). The book are like pieces of art, and have completely captured my attention as such a clever way of documenting and presenting your travels.
Lucy Wayne paintings are a joy to behold: abstract florals in bold colours that instantly evoke a summer garden. I have my eye on a few of her paintings for my bedroom, to conjure up memories of my favourite time of year even in the depths of winter, when there’s no colour to be found outside my window.
Another hotel high up on my wish list, Palazzo Edmondo first caught my eye thanks to its huge stone bath tubs with shower heads dangling over head. I love that there’s a window just in the right place to gaze out of as you soak, luxurating in your surroundings. Inside the palazzo, there are just three suites (I always fall for hotels with just a handful of rooms), each with a private terrace and access to communal spaces for dining and relaxing. Everything from the terracotta and sage interiors to the crystal clear waters of the nearby Salento coastline is tempted me to book a stay here.
I’ve read six books since my last Edit, with two battling it out for my favourite read of the month: A Gorgeous Excitement by Cynthia Weiner and Old Soul by Susan Barker. (Affiliate links used below).
A Gorgeous Excitement by Cynthia Barker
I hadn’t heard much about this new release before I picked it up, intrigued by the cover (yes, I fall for that trope). Set in the 1980’s against the backdrop of NYC’s preppy scene and the real life ‘preppy murder’ that shocked society, it’s an utterly engrossing coming-of-age story. The protagonist, Nina is enjoying her final summer before leaving for college — she’s got an edgy new friend, a worrying new cocaine habit and a maybe-repiprocated crush on the boy that everyone is in love with, while also trying not to be concerned by her mother’s flailing mental health. While the story slips between Nina’s interactions with her crush, her family, her friends and her beloved new drug, it also brings to light the inherent misogyny of the 80’s, with the reactions to the murdered girl at the end of the book being particularly shocking. If you enjoy a good bilsdungroman and books set in the 80’s/New York — pick this up.
Ask Me Again by Clare Sestanovich
I was excited to read this novel but really struggled to finish it, skimming large parts. I found it dull, plotless and just didn’t connect with any of the characters. Not one I’d recommend.
This was a brilliant read, reminiscent in some ways of David Nicholl’s Boneclocks, another novel that I loved (in the style of writing, the way the book was structured, and subtle similarities in the plot). It’s a literary horror focusing on a mysterious woman who enchants then photographs people who subsequently die in very strange circumstances. I don’t want to say more, as I enjoyed reading this without knowing too much about it, but its written really well, the characters are all interesting, and the plot kept me hooked throughout.
A Sharp Scratch by Heather Darwent (pr copy)
I loved Heather’s debut, The Things We Do To Our Friends, and while I didn’t love this quite as much, it’s still a great read. Part Girl Interrupted, part A Cure For Wellness, the story focuses around an unwell woman who checks herself into an unusual retreat named Carn where there are just three other patients/guests. She starts to feel like Carn really is curing her, but there are increasing suggestions that something sinister is lurking beneath its luxurious facade.
Deviants by Santanu Bhattacharya
It took me a while to get into this, mainly because I didn’t enjoy one of the protagonist’s style of writing/speaking — but once I started reading from the other two character’s perspectives, I was hooked. Deviants is the story of three generations of a family in India who are all gay — the youngest character is recording voice notes of his experience, while his uncle and great-uncle write down their stories. It was insightful to read about the character’s completely different experiences over decades, with several moments being incredibly poignant and upsetting.
The Wildelings by Lisa Harding (pr copy)
Anything that draws comparisons to The Secret History reels me in. This upcoming release is also set in Dublin, and if you’ve been reading this newsletter for a while, you’ll know I love Irish books. The story revolves around a young woman named Jessica, and her toxic relationships with her best friend, boyfriend and other members of their friendship group, including the enigmatic Mark. I really enjoyed this and loved the writing, but the ending fell a little flat for me. The whole way through, the reader knows everything is building up to an accident that changed the lives of particularly Jessica and her best friend. When the accident happens, the book basically ends, and it just felt like there was a huge opportunity for the author to continue telling the story.
My next newsletter for my paid subscribers is going to be all about my hotel turn ons and turn offs — what makes me fall in love with or feel disappointed with a hotel. After that, I’m not yet sure what I’ll be writing about later this month (I’m currently bouncing around a couple of different ideas and I’m also open to ideas of anything you’d like me to focus on).
See you next week!
Emma x